GSMphone, 27 Aug 2016lumia 1020 is the best for photos
it has 41MP and large 1/1.5 sensor and good OIS and not... moreI love the 1020, but we are not comparing equivalent handsets...
It has a proper lens (and slideover hood, yes?), and a fairly major 'camera hump'.
It was a camera first and a phone second; might as well compare it to other 'camera phones'. (There has been a few)
Yes the Nokia 1020s claim was crazy high resolution...
With each new generation of sensor, especially the sony ones (found in high end nikon etc), the dynamic range and iso sensitivity improves noticably.
The dual pixel focus and waterproofing make the Note7 a vastly superior camera for day to day stuff, for me..
If I wanted ultimate sharpness; I wouldn't go less than real glass onto an aps-c sensor.
For the ultimate photo, we carry around ultimate cameras.
For everything else, the camera that is on us gets the shot...
Shitty slow glass on 'not very sensitive' sensors means more blurred photos. (The shutter has to be open longer to get a correct exposure),.. 41megapixels of blur wouldn't cut it for me. Great for landscape, impossible for getting shots of the kids at play.
Note 7 perfect for gettings shots of moving objects... fast moving objects even...

To be fair this wasn't meant to be an attack on the Nokia 1020 (it IS an exceptional camera phone, with a large sensor that allows its lens to do better depth of field, even vs the f1.7 on the Note 7s smaller sensor). Technology has come forward. I would take the 12 megapixel sony IMX260 over MOST other camera phones ever released. (Partly due to weatherproofing and lens adapters, but mostly the cool technology!!)

Nodnyl, 27 Aug 2016I have a Note 4, and have been using it for 16:9 4K videos and HD photos. I was planning to u... moreWidescreen modes present.
Cropping for a 2k full high definition television; umm it can only display two million pixels.

Quite often best bet is photos in 9.1 megapixel widescreen (and raw), and record in full high definition mode (not 4k) as you still get digital stabilisation.
I found most handheld shot 4k vids on my note 4 vastly inferior to the FHD ones... (due to better stabilisation at the lower resolution).
So, 60 fps full high def might be the 'go to'.

For majorly high quality panoramas, use the 'panorama' setting in the camera....

I have a Note 4, and have been using it for 16:9 4K videos and HD photos. I was planning to upgrade to Note 7 right now, but I can't find out if the camera can be set to take 16:9 ratio photos and videos. I know the chip is 12 mp vs 16mp for the Note 4, but does anyone know if the Note 7 has an option to take 16:9 photos and videos without my having to crop all of them for my HD TV?

For me the Note 5 is too much better than the others two, is cheaper and the features are more gorgeous, even though Note 7 is prettier and have new features such as iris scanner but what about the camera? that's what we are looking for dude :)

Having played around with the camera features I can confirm that some of these are pretty kick pants.

Whilst it has sensor quality but the 'bucketload' (being a BackSideIlluminated Sony IMX260), the fast glass up front makes this pairing well matched.
I couldn't find many examples of chromatic aberration (near nil on widescreen formatted shots), the extreme corner of the sensor (typically where aberration effects are strongest) did have some examples on highly contrasting examples. In fairness I was trying to create worse case scenarios!

The software is fantastic, and the megapixel rate isn't reaching beyond what the lens can resolve.. the matchup of parts is crucial, and this is one of the best 'point and shoot' cameras a person will reasonably find, without getting some optical zoom. Optical zoom on waterproofed cameras is usually folded optics and not always the 'greatest quality' (given the reducing prices on waterproof cameras).

So pairing up a 'lens kit'; this camera would be mostly unbeatable by most 'pants cameras'.
Samsung have really hit this phone out of the park with regards to the camera.
Not since my Nokia 920 came out (with Sony BSI sensor and optical stabilisation of relatively fast glass) have I felt a camera/phone has added so much.

Well done.
And the software modes for capturing photos is insane.
Slow motion, Hyperlapse, Video Collage, are alright...
But the real brilliance is in Virtual Shot (making a 3D/panable photo), Selective Focus (playing with defocus, or 'dual focus' points) and Panorama.

The Panorama blows away what I have come to know and love from the best Panorama capable cameras.
Well done Samsung; quality of lowest common denominator cameras has had the bar raised significantly!

Pedro-TheNeighbor, 25 Aug 2016Henceforth I got the Note7. I admired the leap of the Note 4's features over the 3, however, t... moreI was in a similar situation as you. I was debating between the Note 4 and Note 5, but ended up getting the Note 4 for a cheap price (I am happy with the choice). I'll be getting the Note 7 next month; hope you are enjoying yours right now.

Bunyip22, 25 Aug 2016I have come from the GN4 to the GN7.
The GN7 camera is streets ahead of the GN4 in all situ... moreI agree that the Note 7 is a big improvement over the Note 4 in taking photos. My friend let me play around with it while it was still in beta testing. It's much more responsive and photos look better. I'm getting the Note 7 when my contract ends next month.

The Note 5 zoom ins are all zoomed in further. If you zoom it in to the same zoom as the S7 and Note 7, it could be alot better.
While the Note 7 is undeniably better than its predecessor, it doesnt feel like an upgrade thats worth the money.

Anonymous, 23 Aug 2016A marginally better mobile camera is a silly reason to buy anything with so many downsides. I ... moreI don't mind about this phone marginal updates over the S7 because I don't have an S7, In fact I don't think these phones are meant to be upgraded every 6 months, you either stick to the S series or the note series if you're into samsung flagships but not both. I upgraded to this phone from note 4 and the changes over 2 years in almost every aspect of the phone are very noticeable. I don't want an s7 edge because Larger screen and s-pen are really important for me but 3000mha battery, lack of innovation, no Sd-Card among other things made me avoid the note 5 last year and as far as I'm concerned this phone is the proper Note successor that the note 5 wasn't.

I personally find the colours of these pics oversaturated, and increased contrast. In addition, samsung uses amoled panels on their flagships and here, the colors are oversaturated too.
When seen on a laptop or or pc display, colours can look different.
It's a matter of taste, some people prefer natural colors, other people like oversaturated colors and increased contrast. I prefer natural colors!

noblecowboy, 24 Aug 2016You can't compare your Note 3 with the Note 4. The Note 3 doesn't have Optical Image Stabiliza... moreHenceforth I got the Note7. I admired the leap of the Note 4's features over the 3, however, they weren't enough to push me to get it. I was tempted to get the 4 after the disappointing 5's lack of memory expansion.

Bunyip22, 24 Aug 2016I had Nokias for 8 or so years. They were great but didn't move with the times when iphones an... moreYes you are saying true, i hope they will come back with the android along with a super hardware technology.